portable reloading bench

boondocker385 · May 30, 2015, 09:03 AM

We will be moving out of our house and living in our fifth wheel for the next 6-12 months as we relocate. I need suggestions on building a portable bench for a single stage reloader that I can easily disassemble and store.

Clark · May 30, 2015, 10:18 AM

I reload in; a) the reloading room, b) at my desk where I watch TV on a tuner my computer, c) my vehicle, d) at the range, c) at two other guy's houses when I stay there in hunting season, d) in front of the big TV in the living room.

To get started and be reloading in a few minutes in the living room or kitchen:

1) Mount a press on a board with sheetrock screws and washers.
Clamp the board to a table or bench with a "C" clamp or woodworking clamp.

2) Mount a powder measure stand or bracket to a board.
Clamp the board to a table or bench with a "C" clamp or woodworking clamp.

3) Put a cardboard box or small table on the bench or table. Set the powder scale on the box. It should be at eye level.

Now you are doing it. It can become more and more elaborate. I sit on a little kid's chair in my vehicle when I reload there.

boondocker385 · May 30, 2015, 10:59 AM

Clark. ..thanks, the table in our RV isn't terribly sturdy but will be taking a portable table so that may work.

cwall64 · May 30, 2015, 11:26 AM

My father built this little setup probably 30+ years ago for us to use at home or the ranch, it has served us well over the years! I believe that he got the design out of an old American Rifleman... I could take some measurements if interested. Even though I have a great bench with a turret press and progressive on it I still use this for sitting in front of the TV and doing the decapping or push through sizing of certain rounds...

mikld · May 30, 2015, 11:35 AM

I used this for several years before I had a dedicated "reloading area";

daboone · May 30, 2015, 02:13 PM

The Lee Loaders or their hand press and dippers is as about a portable as it gets.

jmorris · May 30, 2015, 03:22 PM

oley55 · May 30, 2015, 05:25 PM

jmorris, can't tell for sure but is ur press bolted to some kind of class III hitch rig?

except for the slight side to side wobble, that 3,000 pounds of vehicle aught to provide a pretty stable platform.

rtpzwms · May 30, 2015, 05:42 PM

there might be something of interest here for you.

http://ads.midwayusa.com/find?userSe...daAaAlIx8P8HAQ

BigJimP · May 30, 2015, 06:26 PM

Back in the day.... I bolted my loaders to a 2" X 18" plank...and then locked the plank down on a Black and Decker workmate foldable work bench ( "C" clamps or whatever )....

It worked really well....for apartment living. Put the loader on the shelf...fold up the workmate bench. There are other companies making foldable workbenches these days too.

jmorris · May 30, 2015, 10:34 PM

Quote:

jmorris, can't tell for sure but is ur press bolted to some kind of class III hitch rig?

except for the slight side to side wobble, that 3,000 pounds of vehicle aught to provide a pretty stable platform.

Yes, just 2" box tube. A ratchet strap pulling it to the side makes it quite ridged.

boondocker385 · May 31, 2015, 09:43 AM

Thanks all. CWall. ...very cool

Bucksnort1 · June 2, 2015, 10:38 PM

CWall, What a great idea. Will you send more photos and dimensions? This gives me a great idea for my original press, the RCBS Partner Press. The Partner isn't a hog, similar to the one in your photos or the Rock Chucker, so it lends itself to this application very well. I can do some prep functions while watching the Cowboys kick butt, if they can get a good quarterback.

Quando Omni flunkus moritati.

JeepHammer · June 3, 2015, 01:19 PM

I used a heavy 'Trunk', heavier than a foot locker for years.
On end, top opened 90 degrees, it was VERY stable.
Easy to make slide in partitions/store mounted hardware/supplies.
All kinds of 'Cubby holes' for supplies, and a fold up table made for easy mounting of press.

May 30, 2015, 09:03 AM	#1
boondocker385 Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2013 Posts: 640	portable reloading bench We will be moving out of our house and living in our fifth wheel for the next 6-12 months as we relocate. I need suggestions on building a portable bench for a single stage reloader that I can easily disassemble and store. __________________ No second place finishes in a gun fight.

May 30, 2015, 10:18 AM	#2
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I reload in; a) the reloading room, b) at my desk where I watch TV on a tuner my computer, c) my vehicle, d) at the range, c) at two other guy's houses when I stay there in hunting season, d) in front of the big TV in the living room. To get started and be reloading in a few minutes in the living room or kitchen: 1) Mount a press on a board with sheetrock screws and washers. Clamp the board to a table or bench with a "C" clamp or woodworking clamp. 2) Mount a powder measure stand or bracket to a board. Clamp the board to a table or bench with a "C" clamp or woodworking clamp. 3) Put a cardboard box or small table on the bench or table. Set the powder scale on the box. It should be at eye level. Now you are doing it. It can become more and more elaborate. I sit on a little kid's chair in my vehicle when I reload there. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

May 30, 2015, 10:59 AM	#3
boondocker385 Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2013 Posts: 640	Clark. ..thanks, the table in our RV isn't terribly sturdy but will be taking a portable table so that may work. __________________ No second place finishes in a gun fight.

May 30, 2015, 11:26 AM	#4
cwall64 Member Join Date: March 18, 2015 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 63	My father built this little setup probably 30+ years ago for us to use at home or the ranch, it has served us well over the years! I believe that he got the design out of an old American Rifleman... I could take some measurements if interested. Even though I have a great bench with a turret press and progressive on it I still use this for sitting in front of the TV and doing the decapping or push through sizing of certain rounds... __________________ NRA Endowment Member

May 30, 2015, 05:25 PM	#8
oley55 Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2013 Location: JAX, FL Posts: 377	jmorris, can't tell for sure but is ur press bolted to some kind of class III hitch rig? except for the slight side to side wobble, that 3,000 pounds of vehicle aught to provide a pretty stable platform. __________________ “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.” ― Ronald Reagan

May 30, 2015, 02:13 PM	#6
daboone Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Phoenix AZ, Kealakekua HI Posts: 100	The Lee Loaders or their hand press and dippers is as about a portable as it gets.

May 30, 2015, 03:22 PM	#7
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077

May 30, 2015, 05:42 PM	#9
rtpzwms Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2010 Location: OTS Posts: 1,035	there might be something of interest here for you. http://ads.midwayusa.com/find?userSe...daAaAlIx8P8HAQ __________________ Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.

May 30, 2015, 06:26 PM	#10
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Back in the day.... I bolted my loaders to a 2" X 18" plank...and then locked the plank down on a Black and Decker workmate foldable work bench ( "C" clamps or whatever ).... It worked really well....for apartment living. Put the loader on the shelf...fold up the workmate bench. There are other companies making foldable workbenches these days too.

May 31, 2015, 09:43 AM	#12
boondocker385 Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2013 Posts: 640	Thanks all. CWall. ...very cool __________________ No second place finishes in a gun fight.

June 2, 2015, 10:38 PM	#13
Bucksnort1 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2013 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 1,121	CWall, What a great idea. Will you send more photos and dimensions? This gives me a great idea for my original press, the RCBS Partner Press. The Partner isn't a hog, similar to the one in your photos or the Rock Chucker, so it lends itself to this application very well. I can do some prep functions while watching the Cowboys kick butt, if they can get a good quarterback. Quando Omni flunkus moritati.

June 3, 2015, 01:19 PM	#14
JeepHammer Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2015 Posts: 1,768	I used a heavy 'Trunk', heavier than a foot locker for years. On end, top opened 90 degrees, it was VERY stable. Easy to make slide in partitions/store mounted hardware/supplies. All kinds of 'Cubby holes' for supplies, and a fold up table made for easy mounting of press.